San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland told ESPN's Outside The Lines on Monday that he is retiring from the NFL due to concerns about the long-term health effects of head trauma. The 49ers later announced the retirement in a statement.

Can't predict what players will do. But I like it that the players are free to make their own decisions instead of the NFL putting more and more rules in place.

Besides, is it a bad thing that some of the more physical positions like defensive backs or running backs have shorter careers? A 4 or 5 year career versus an 8 or 10 year career might be better at keeping risks lower for them. And it may help the college pipeline beef up. Maybe some of the above average recruits with potential wouldn't hold out as much for the "elite" schools if they thought they had good chances from, say, an Eastern Carolina or Georgia Southern. Supply and demand at work in a way.